Lots of talk about the Warriors. Former players taking shots at their throne. Critics questioning their place in history. Even point guard Stephen Curry is getting annoyed. He isn’t alone. Mary Babers-Green, mother of All-Star Draymond Green, is getting annoyed by… Continue Reading →

He isn’t alone. Mary Babers-Green, mother of All-Star Draymond Green, is getting annoyed by the criticism, too. She penned this letter, an exclusive to Bay Area News Group:

WHO ARE WE ALL WATCHING?

That’s right the GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS! Last year was supposedly a fluke. Critics were talking, calling it luck, attributing Warriors success to other team’s injuries. But, as I was always told, a WIN IS A WIN. Whether it’s by 1 point or by 50, a win is a win. And in the case of the Warriors, a CHAMPIONSHIP IS A CHAMPIONSHIP! Every team that has hoisted the trophy has benefited from breaks. That’s always a part of being the last team standing. So whether all the opposing players are suited up or not, the Warriors did their job: they won.
*Leandro Barnosa voice* WE BE CHAMPIONSHIP

Even after such a great year, and the Warriors following that with sheer domination this season, the “so-called experts” and former basketball players are slinging mud at Golden State. All the talk is about what the Warriors can’t do, what would have happened in another day, why what they are doing isn’t so great after all. MOVE ON! It happens with every generation. Whatever happened to wanting the next generation to be better than the last? What ever happened to being supportive, proud and uplifting, considering what this team is doing to spread the appeal of the game? STOP SPEWING ENVY! Especially you former players, even you legends, these players are who you use to be. They are walking following your footsteps. And nothing they have said or done suggests they aren’t appreciative and grateful for their predecessors. You have their respect. So RELAX! Last time I checked, records are made to be broken. Eras are going to change. Progress is supposed to be good.

The Golden State Warriors are not the ONLY GREAT TEAM. Because they are taking the league by storm, dominating their peers in a way no team has done before, doesn’t make other great teams invalid. It’s just that now is the Warriors’ time. They are trying to defend their throne and carve out their place in history to the best of their ability. There is no crime in getting after it on the court, playing like a team and playing the game the right way. Isn’t that what they are supposed to do? It’s not their fault nobody else can take them down!

So comparing eras is fine. But respect this team! APPRECIATE this team. They have earned it and are earning it.

GRAB YOUR POPCORN and ENJOY THE RIDE. We may never see a team like this ever again. A talented player from Davidson that is breaking records and shooting the trey ball from places on the court that people wouldn’t dare shoot from until now. The relentless blue-collar worker from Michigan State who knows nothing but how to grind, play with heart and use his intelligence on the court. A textbook perfect shooter from Washington State who can leave us all gasping for air. Add a skilled spot-up shooter from North Carolina who has the ability to take flight in the midst of a storm and worked himself into a good defender. Then you throw in a skilled rim protector and rebounder from Utah. If that’s not enough, sprinkle in an amazing high riser from Arizona who does whatever you need him to do, especially when you most need him to do it. The Warriors also have a player who came straight from high school who overcame so much to get to this point, and his patience and perseverance shows up in the way he backs down opponents with his patented moves. The Warriors bench is a real unit. They are in the game even when they aren’t in the game, and most nights they can sustain any pressure. Last but not least, the Warriors are being led by a skilled “NBA CHAMPION” coach who has been down that same road as some of the FORMER GREATS who speak against what the Warriors can’t and don’t do!

Whether they win it all or not, one thing is for certain: BASKETBALL HAS CHANGED. And, quite frankly, I’m glad it has. Because, truth be told, we were all beginning to YAWN!

Despite recently announced new plans to move the team to San Francisco, Oakland has united to show support for the Warriors, who will host Game 3 against the Clippers on Thursday. * AC Transit buses will read “Go Warriors” on… Continue Reading →

]]>http://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/2014/04/23/city-of-oakland-boasts-support-of-warriors-during-playoffs/feed/1Oakland City Hall Exterior – Warriors Blue and Gold Lights – FriWarriors Need to Develop Stephen Curry as Their Go-To Guyhttp://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/2013/12/01/warriors-need-to-develop-stephen-curry-as-their-go-to-guy/
http://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/2013/12/01/warriors-need-to-develop-stephen-curry-as-their-go-to-guy/#commentsMon, 02 Dec 2013 05:33:50 +0000http://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/?p=5342This is exactly how it should be. Down the stretch, in every game where defeat is an option, the ball should be in the hands of Stephen Curry. The fifth-year point guard showed exactly why in the Warriors’ 115-113 win… Continue Reading →

This is exactly how it should be. Down the stretch, in every game where defeat is an option, the ball should be in the hands of Stephen Curry. The fifth-year point guard showed exactly why in the Warriors’ 115-113 win over the NorCal rival Kings.

Curry was dominant down the stretch. The ball was in his hands and he refused to let the Warriors lose.

No. he wasn’t off the ball zipping around screens, fighting off hands-on defenders and relying on the pass to be delivered properly. He wasn’t a decoy, pulling the defense away to create space for someone else to post-up.

This night, Curry was in control, calming the nerves of his team and its fan base though the Warriors were a blink from a second straight gut punch of a loss.

“I mean, he is our best player,” forward Harrison Barnes put it frankly. “When he has the ball in his hands, we’re not worried.”

He scored eight of the Warriors’ last 10 points. All of them were either to tie the game or give the Warriors the lead.

Sure, it was the Kings, one of the worst defenses in the NBA. The better teams in the league put up much more resistance. But Curry needs all the practice he can being that guy for this team. He’s the only player capable of carrying this team.

And with the Warriors struggling through injuries and sporadic effort, they need to be carried.

“It’s what the great players do,” Curry said while unstrapping the brace on his left ankle. “That’s what separates the great ones, I think. … It’s fun. I love that responsibility. Obviously, I might fail sometimes. As long as I am aggressive and trying to make the right play.”

The Warriors’ best chance at living up to expectations is by letting their star shine. He is the Golden State weapon that makes defenses quiver. He is the frontman off which the rest of the band experiences the good life.

Yes, he has his flaws. He turns it over too much (he had seven against the Kings). He doesn’t get to the free throw line enough. You can go at him on defense and have success. All true. But stars aren’t judged by what they can’t do, instead milked for their greatness. No one’s taking the mic from Adam Levine because he can’t sing bass.

The Warriors will only be as good as Curry plays, only go as far as he takes them. That is especially true in close games. So the onus is on Mark Jackson and his staff to maximize his strengths not just hide his weaknesses.

And if Curry can’t carry this team, then its time to blow the roster up anyway. So, at worst, you find out early if he’s the top 10 player many experts peg him to be.

“I hope I can,” Curry said with a smile.

Curry finished with 36 points and 10 assists. It was his first game with 30 and 10 since Don Nelson put the ball in the hands of his baby-faced rookie in the 2009-10 season.

Back then, you could see Curry developing into a nightmare for defenses.

Armed with what will go down as one of the NBA’s best strokes, Curry also had the ball-handling, basketball IQ, court vision and a love of the big stage to make him special. Nellie was so sure, he openly deemed the Warriors were Curry’s team despite veterans like Monta Ellis and Corey Maggette making about $20 million combined.

But for most of the ensuing three seasons, that role was taken from Curry. Partly by the overbearing presence of Ellis. Partly because of his coaches’ inability to stomach his rash of turnovers. Partly because of his ankle issues.

Even last season, Jarrett Jack’s presence neutered the Warriors’ offense. Curry was relegated to off-guard duties late in games. Coach Mark Jackson said it was because having Curry and Klay Thompson coming off screens forced the defense into a toughs pot. But the fact that Jack was a more secure ball-handler, often strong enough or quick enough to fend off pressure defenses, played a role.

Curry was no doubt prone to the ill-timed turnover, which are especially difficult to swallow for a team with little room for error. However, part of the reason Curry has had his struggles controlling games late is his lack of opportunities. No question, that was one of the reasons Jack was not re-signed, forcing Curry into his long-overdue role.

“You can’t focus on looking back,” Curry said. “What it does is make me appreciate it more now that its finally here. Knowing the responsibility wasn’t just given to me. I haven’t done anything yet, so I don’t want to get ahead of myself. But I appreciate coach having the belief in me and giving me the opportunity. I want to make him look good.”

Curry has the skill, and he certainly wants the job. But go-to guys are trained assassins. You’ve got to learn how to take apart defenses, how to manipulate your own offense, how to become at peace in the intense, unpredictable, pressure-packed environment of NBA crunch time.

Golden State has its eye on another playoff run. As it experienced in the spring, postseason games often come down to the final minutes. Now is the time to groom Curry for those moments.

It’s clear he’s the one for them.

Sunday, the Warriors trailed by two inside of three minutes left. Curry set up a Thompson’s career-best eighth 3-pointer of the game to give the Warriors the lead.

The Kings answered with a bucket. But Curry came right back down and banked in a runner after getting past Kings forward John Salmons.

A Patrick Patterson 3 put Sacrament ahead by a basket. Curry answered again. He used a screen to get into the lane and dropped in a finger roll to tie the game at 109 with 1:39 left.

Golden State got a stop and this time Klay Thompson brought the ball up. The play was to get Curry the ball at his sweet spot, the elbow of the free throw line. He put the Warriors up two with a jumper over guard Isaiah Thomas.

Kings big man DeMarcus Cousins tied the game again. Curry, going one-on-one with Salmons, got in the lane again. His runner missed but Draymond Green was there for the tip-in.

Cousins re-tied the game with a jump hook with 12.6 seconds left. It set up a tense situation for Golden State, needing a basket, one mistake from going home a .500 team.

But the ball was in Curry’s hands, where it belonged. Anticipating an intentional foul from Sacramento, he shucked the play when he saw an opening. His heady play produced two free throws, which he nailed with 8.6 seconds left.

That’s five straight possessions the Warriors’ scored down the stretch, all of them produced in different fashion. That’s what happens when you milk your star.

]]>http://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/2013/12/01/warriors-need-to-develop-stephen-curry-as-their-go-to-guy/feed/3Mark Jackson: “You Don’t Win Championships in November”http://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/2013/11/26/mark-jackson-you-dont-win-championships-in-november/
http://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/2013/11/26/mark-jackson-you-dont-win-championships-in-november/#commentsTue, 26 Nov 2013 21:32:13 +0000http://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/?p=5341Mark Jackson doesn’t share your panic. Yes, the Warriors have lost three straight and have fallen to the middle of the pack in the Western Conference. But as they take on the upstart New Orleans Pelicans tonight, Jackson described his… Continue Reading →

Yes, the Warriors have lost three straight and have fallen to the middle of the pack in the Western Conference. But as they take on the upstart New Orleans Pelicans tonight, Jackson described his bunch as … you guessed it … “fine.”

“We’re a team that’s trying to get back to who we are,” Jackson said after Tuesday’s shootaround. “We’ve had some tough injuries but its important that we stop the bleeding and get a quality win tonight.”

Many fans and national analysts are writing the Warriors’ off. And with good reason. The Warriors are 1-4 against top teams in the West, 1-5 if you count Portland among that bunch.

But Jackson said his team just needs to regain a sense of urgency, get back on the saddle of the blows they’ve received from injuries and opportunistic opponents. But he’s not going to overreact from an early season three-game losing streak.

“We know that you don’t win championships in November,” Jackson said. “We are a very good basketball team. And we’ve shown exactly who we are when we’re healthy and whole. The most important thing is for us to, just like injuries, stay true to the process. Continue to get better and play our best basketball when it matters most.”

Jackson said the Warriors are losing because they aren’t playing their style of basketball. It drives him crazy as a coach, but it reinforces what it takes for them to get it done.

Jackson said last year’s squad knew it was good but it was operating solely on faith. This year’s squad, Jackson said, knows its good because of the evidence, drawing on the playoff run in the spring.

But the film has snitched on the Warriors for not playing like they did when they reached the Western Conference semifinals. But Jackson contends this just what every good team goes through and Golden State just needs to get back to what it does best.

“We’re a team that outworks people,” Jackson said. “We’re a team that defends and stays true to our principles. And when we don’t do that, we’re not good enough to still win ball games. So we can’t be tricked into thinking we’ve arrived.”

* Jackson said O’Neal’s status will be determined before tip-off. The veteran center, who is needed to start now that Andrew Bogut is suspended for tonight’s game, participated in shootaround. The only hold up is making sure he is pain free.

Jackson said he won’t force it since the Warriors are so thin on the frontline.

“I think that’s where you get in trouble, and one week turns into a month,” Jackson said. “If he’s not fine, if he’s not healthy, if he’s not feeling well, I don’t want him on the floor. Just like always, we’re staying true to the process. When he’s ready, he plays. But we will not allow the situation to force him to play.”

]]>http://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/2013/11/26/mark-jackson-you-dont-win-championships-in-november/feed/14Game 13/14 Rewind: Warriors Aren’t Playing Hungryhttp://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/2013/11/26/game-1314-rewind-warriors-arent-playing-hungry/
http://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/2013/11/26/game-1314-rewind-warriors-arent-playing-hungry/#commentsTue, 26 Nov 2013 16:38:46 +0000http://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/?p=5337There was one resounding tone from the Warriors’ last two losses, one that burns coach Mark Jackson more than the losses themselves. Both opponents wanted the win more than Golden State. Based on the eye test, that was the case… Continue Reading →

There was one resounding tone from the Warriors’ last two losses, one that burns coach Mark Jackson more than the losses themselves. Both opponents wanted the win more than Golden State.

Based on the eye test, that was the case in Friday’s 102-95 loss to the host Los Angeles Lakers and Saturday’s 113-101 loss to visiting Portland. The Warriors didn’t look like the hungry team bent on exerting their will. They looked like a comfortable team expecting the light bulb to go off any moment, like someone appeased their hunger with a few Snickers.

“We were just bad – just bad,” Jackson said. “I thought there were some times where we let our inability to make shots affect the way we defended. That’s not who we are. We didn’t give the same energy the same effort. The 50/50 balls, the long rebounds and loose balls – they got every single one of them. When we are on top of our game, those are ours and we turn them into transition baskets. That’s a team that scored 64 points in the second half — 48 points off turnovers and second chance opportunities. You can’t win, you can’t win that way.”

It’s Thanksgiving week, and the Warriors embark on a three-game road trip extremely thankful for the 8-3 start that has cushioned their fall.

Losers of three straight, the Warriors have the seventh-best record in the Western Conference. Not that long ago, they went to San Antonio with a chance to claim the best record in the west.

“The expectations inside our locker room are the same,” Stephen Curry said. “It’s healthy that we’ve gone on a three-game slide and being 8-6 this early in the season. Guys are frustrated figuring out how to turn it around. We’re in a good spot right now.”

More on the last two games …

MVP

Harrison Barnes. Against the Lakers, he was imposing on offense. He probably didn’t shoot enough based on the way he had it going and with Stephen Curry out. He had 20 points on 9 of 13 shooting against the Lakers in 44 minutes of action. Against Portland, he wasn’t as efficient with his shot, making just 4 of 12. But he had five assists and got to the free throw line. It’s becoming clear his role in the offense should be bigger, or at least intentional.

MDP

David Lee. This stretch is indicative of why David Lee critics are so adamant. His numbers looked good. He totaled 36 points and 25 rebounds in the two games. But if you watched the game, he got outplayed both times. Against the Lakers, both Pau Gasol and Jordan Hill were effective against him. And LaMarcus Aldridge – who Lee usually outplays – just ate him up. Lee wasn’t alone, for sure. Nobody was great. But with Curry out the first game and Iguodala out the second, the Warriors needed him to be great. He wasn’t, on either end of the court.

TELLING STAT

The first 12 games of the season opponents were making, on average, 6 of 19 from 3-point range against the Warriors. That’s 31.4 percent.

The Lakers and Portland, however, combined to make 21 of 45. That’s 46.7 percent.

Both teams reached the double digits in 3-pointers made against the Warriors.

Conversely, the Warriors were 16 of 39 from 3-point range (41 percent), making 9 against the Lakers and 7 against Portland. Before those two games, the Warriors were shooting a league-best 44.8 percent and averaging 10.6 made 3-pointers per game.

TRENDING TOPIC

It seems the Warriors are due for a drought each game. Granted, they have been without at least one key offensive player and are operating basically without a productive guard coming off the bench. But aren’t the Warriors’ supposed to be so loaded that offense isn’t a concern?

These scoring droughts are proving to be killer. Golden State had a 17-point quarter in each of the games. Both of them spelled doom for their chances at winning.

Against the Lakers, the Warriors failed to score the final 4:23 of the quarter. Los Angeles ripped off a 12-0 run and the Warriors never recovered. Against Portland, the game was tied at 90. Curry hit a floater at the 8:45 mark. The Warriors’ next points came at 2:49 on a layup by Lee. During Golden State’s drought, Portland ran off 14 straight to put the Warriors away.

Why are these droughts happening? …

COACH’S CORNER

***** I don’t think it is a coincidence. When teams go on a run, the Warriors’ get tight. Suddenly, they’re in need of a basket so their response is to try to milk an advantage. And their idea of milking advantages is giving the ball to the player with the smaller guy on him.

I like the logic. Some moments in the game, you need to go for a high-percentage shot. However, this is not a high-percentage option for the Warriors. Posting up David Lee and Klay Thompson is not playing to their strengths. Isolating Harrison Barnes is probably the best of those options, but it still isn’t ideal because that part of his game is developing.

The Warriors spend too much time at that ISO buffet. It just doesn’t fit their style. To be sure, it is good in spots. Barnes on a small, I’ll take that. Klay with a point guard behind him, I’ll even take that IF he has a rhythm going. But for the most part, ISOs and post-ups are against what the Warriors do best.

No. 1, it eliminates their transition game. No. 2, it almost always becomes a one-shot situation, as no one is in position to rebound because of the isolation set up. One-and-done possessions are the last thing you need when you are cold. You don’t want fewer shots in a drought, you want MORE shots.

No. 3, they don’t have post players. Carl Landry isn’t walking through that door. Lee’s game is potent because of his versatility. His skill set is so high, you have to pick and choose what to take away, and he’s good enough to beat you with his counter. Play off him, he hits the midrange. Play on him, he can drive by you. Take away the right hand, he finishes with the left. As post-up player, he is just too limited. He knows what move he wants from the beginning. You don’t see him pulling off up-and-unders. You don’t see him driving middle and suddenly spinning back baseline. You don’t see him pump-faking to get his man in the air. You don’t see him throwing himself into the defender just to draw the foul.

That’s because posting is instinctual. It is not having a couple of moves, but having a feel. It’s going right three times to set up the fake-and-go-left. It’s feeling where the defender is leaning his strength and using it against him. It’s reading the help and finding the right counter. That’s Zach Randolph’s game. That’s LaMarcus Aldridge’s game. That’s not David Lee’s game. So putting him in that situation puts him at a disadvantage.

***** When the Warriors need a bucket, you know what they should do? Run a trap. Speed up the offense by pressuring the ball. You’ve got a rim presence as a backstop in Bogut. That’s in essence what the Muckers do. (I refuse to call them the Goon Squad because WarriorsWorld.net is trying to claim ownership over that cliche! lol) Jermaine O’Neal, Draymond Green, Toney Douglas, they get in the game and muck it up by playing defense aggressively. And it works. They just can’t capitalize on offense, and they foul too much sometimes, but they have a way of getting the opponent out of their rhythm with their aggressiveness defensively. The Warriors can take the same approach with the starters. Just have Curry pressure the ball, shading his man to a trap zone. Especially when you have Iguodala on the court. I bet he and Curry would make a great trap.

Some turnovers, stops could produce the transition game they need to jump start the offense. And they’d be doing it with defense.

Another thing they could do, and I know this sounds bad, leak out. Let Barnes or Thompson contest the perimeter and leak. Whether a miss or a made basket, push it. Curry is great at advancing the ball. Get it out quick and get it up the court. I’d much rather Thompson or Barnes going 1 on 2 in transition than them posting up with the defense waiting with the help.

Or, instead of having Curry get the ball near the basket on the inbounds, have him go to the half court area. Either pass up to there from the inbounds, or have someone else come get the inbounds, then turn and get it to Curry. That way, your best playmaker has it ahead of the defense with a head of steam. The inbounder becomes the trailer and if nothing is there, now you can get into your offense.

“We’re at our best when we’re pushing the basketball,” Jackson has said.

***** Mark Jackson keeps saying “we’ll be fine” … “we’ll be fine.” This is a smart approach. If the Warriors 13-7 or 12-8 over their first 20 games, which is still possible, that’s still a pretty good start. Panicking and losing perspective is not what they need. In the end, it’s a three-game losing streak in the first month of the season. More important than the losses is addressing the issues that has led to them. If the Warriors do that, they’ll be fine. But it’s harder to do that when the coach is overreacting. As much as we in the media present the doom, Jackson’s mild-mannered approach rubs off on his players. They’ll need all that belief as they carry on.

WHAT HE SAID

“We have built-in excuses to lose games because we have injuries. But every team goes through injuries, so we need to find a way to respond. … We’ve got to do what we can. No one will feel sorry for us and, like I said, we can’t use this as an excuse now because we have injuries.” — Andrew Bogut

AT LEAST WE LEARNED

Nemanja Nedovic might be a solid option as a third guard. He seems to be getting more and more comfortable with each appearance.

He is a comfortable ball-handler and he’s got good size for a point guard. He’s still relatively passive, but that seems to be dissipating as his confidence rises. Mark Jackson is putting him in the games while they are still in the balance and he’s not necessarily hurting the Warriors. If he can knock down an open shot and defend without fouling, he may work his way into the rotation a lot sooner than expected.

BEFORE YOU GO

Since drafting Curry, the Warriors are 16-41 when he is not in the lineup.

]]>http://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/2013/11/26/game-1314-rewind-warriors-arent-playing-hungry/feed/1Warriors C Andrew Bogut to be Suspended, Draymond Green Finedhttp://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/2013/11/25/warriors-c-andrew-bogut-to-be-suspended-draymond-green-fined/
http://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/2013/11/25/warriors-c-andrew-bogut-to-be-suspended-draymond-green-fined/#commentsMon, 25 Nov 2013 19:49:40 +0000http://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/?p=5335The NBA will levy a one-game suspension on Warriors’ center Andrew Bogut for his role in Saturday’s altercation. USA Today was first to report. Forward Draymond Green, who was the only player ejected, will be fined, team sources said. Replays… Continue Reading →

The NBA will levy a one-game suspension on Warriors’ center Andrew Bogut for his role in Saturday’s altercation. USA Today was first to report.

Forward Draymond Green, who was the only player ejected, will be fined, team sources said.

Replays show Bogut initiated the scrum when he shoved Portland center Joel Freeland, who had his arm locked while jockeying for a rebound. It appeared Bogut might have thrown a punch, at least a high elbow that scarcely missed landing.

Eventually, Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge, Mo Williams and Wesley Matthews got involved. Then Green would have to be restrained. Williams was reportedly suspended as well.

The Warriors visit New Orleans Tuesday. Back-up center Jermaine O’Neal has missed the last four games with a bruised right knee and a right groin strain. If he can’t go, the Warriors will likely start Marreese Speights at center.

The Warriors will also be without Andre Iguodala, out indefinitely with a strained left hamstring.

]]>http://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/2013/11/25/warriors-c-andrew-bogut-to-be-suspended-draymond-green-fined/feed/6Seth Curry On the Grind in Santa Cruz: ‘I’m definitely not where I want to be.’http://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/2013/11/25/seth-curry-on-the-grind-in-santa-cruz-im-definitely-not-where-i-want-to-be/
http://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/2013/11/25/seth-curry-on-the-grind-in-santa-cruz-im-definitely-not-where-i-want-to-be/#respondMon, 25 Nov 2013 18:39:02 +0000http://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/?p=5330SANTA CRUZ — You could tell how rough a shooting night Seth Curry had by the way his brother reacted. Having missed six straight 3-pointers, the younger Curry finally got one to go at the 4:16 mark of the third… Continue Reading →

SANTA CRUZ — You could tell how rough a shooting night Seth Curry had by the way his brother reacted. Having missed six straight 3-pointers, the younger Curry finally got one to go at the 4:16 mark of the third quarter.

Stephen Curry, the Golden State Warriors star, jumped out of his seat and tossed a t-shirt high in the air in celebration, posing with his arms spread as if he’d released a dove into the clouds.

“I’m sure it was pretty funny,” Seth Curry said.

Despite just 3 of 14 attempts, it was not a lost night for the rookie out of Duke. He’s not in the D-League to shoot.

The bigger deal was his 11 assists and two turnovers in 35 minutes as the Santa Cruz Warriors handed the visiting Austin Toros a 117-103 loss.

He looked in control handling the ball against pressure. He was more decisive and assertive running the pick-and-roll. A known gunner, who had 36 points in the season-opener, he appeared just as willing to set up his teammates.

“I feel very comfortable,” Curry said. “If you watch the first three games we played, I think I looked pretty good — getting my teammates involved and scoring at the same time. I felt good handling the ball and everything like that. It feels natural. Obviously, with more reps I’ll get much better. But I feel comfortable.”

Curry’s ability to make the NBA his home is likely tied to his ability to play point guard at the next level. At 6-foot-2, and not an exceptional athlete, defending off guards would be a tall order. But he inherited the family gene from his father, Dell Curry, the former NBA vet known for his sharp-shooting. And pairing an outside stroke with some point guard skills has been a formula proven to work by his older brother.

But for Seth Curry, it’s taking something else: patience.

He certainly needs more than his cult followers in the Bay Area. The final horn hadn’t even sounded on his career before Golden State fans began clamoring for the brothers to be united. Since back-up point guard Toney Douglas went down with an injury, and Golden State has looked desperate for a point guard, Warriors fans have taken to Twitter to lobby for the call-up of Curry.

Yeah, he sees the tweets. He feels the love. Judging by the grin spreading across his face when asked, he likes it, too.

But Curry said his best hope is not to focus on what should have been, or what could be. It’s a distraction.

“You obviously want to be up there. You’re watching games, thinking you can play on that level,” he said. “But I’m just going out and playing basketball. Playing the same way I would if I was in the league. It’s pretty easy for me to put it all behind.”

Golden State would have to cut someone to make room for Curry. But first he has to show some things to warrant cutting one of the current investments on the end of the bench.

Curry needs to work on his body, improving his strength and quickness. He’s got to hone is skill as a scorer so he can be effective against varying defenses. If he wants to play for the Warriors, he’s got to become adept at running the pick-and-roll. And, as is the case for most players coming from college, he needs to get better on defense.

His older brother sees him accepting the challenge.

“My brother is ultra competitive,” Stephen Curry said. “As a younger brother, he had to be like that because I would never let him win.”

Patience is no problem for Curry. It’s been the virtue that has got him through the last seven months.

It’s been a long road to Santa Cruz. Off-season surgery in April killed his chances of impressing a team enough to get drafted. Not healthy enough to play in summer league, he had to scurry for a training camp invite. In the end, he got one (from Golden State). It was that or going to play in Barcelona.

At the bottom of a crowded depth chart, Curry saw limited action in practices and preseason games. One of the last cuts from the pro club, the Santa Cruz option went from a fall-back plan to his new home.

He said he likes it in Santa Cruz. It isn’t your stereotypical D-League atmosphere at Kaiser Arena. It feels much more like a college game, and the loud, packed house seems to love Curry. But while he is hoping it’s just a pit stop, he said embracing the opportunity is what’s best.

“I’ve just got to go out and focus on playing the same way I would (in the NBA),” Seth Curry said. “Just be aggressive. I can’t go out there thinking I’ve got to kill just to show everybody, prove everybody wrong. I just have to go out there, stay calm and play. I think I can do a good job of that. I’m definitely not where I want to be.”

]]>http://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/2013/11/25/seth-curry-on-the-grind-in-santa-cruz-im-definitely-not-where-i-want-to-be/feed/0Altercation Breaks out at Oracle Between Warriors and Blazers; Three Players Ejectedhttp://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/2013/11/23/altercation-breaks-out-at-oracle-between-warriors-and-blazers-three-players-ejected/
http://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/2013/11/23/altercation-breaks-out-at-oracle-between-warriors-and-blazers-three-players-ejected/#commentsSun, 24 Nov 2013 05:24:42 +0000http://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/?p=5328With 3:42 left in the third quarter, play was stopped due to an altercation between the Warriors and Blazers. Two possible punches were thrown, though none appeared to have landed. Andrew Bogut and and Joel Freeeland got tangled up in… Continue Reading →

With 3:42 left in the third quarter, play was stopped due to an altercation between the Warriors and Blazers. Two possible punches were thrown, though none appeared to have landed.

Andrew Bogut and and Joel Freeeland got tangled up in the key. Bogut shoved Freeland off him, and it look like he threw an elbow at Freeland that appeared to barely miss the Blazers’ big man’s chin.. Blazers big man LaMarcus Aldridge then shoved Bogut in the neck. Mo Williams also jumped in to get between Bogut and Aldridge, and Bogut pushed Williams away, too. Williams responded by trying to push Bogut in the face, which may have been perceived as a punch because Williams was ejected.

It appeared the small shoving match was about to end but Wesley Matthews – who at one point was holding back aAldridge – suddenly needed to be restrained while going after someone near the Warriors’ bench. The raucous, which took place at the Warriors’ end of the court, spilled into the court side seats. Before long, Warriors’ Draymond Green – who was on the bench at the time – needed to be restrained by Mark Jackson and assistant coach Brian Scalabrine.

Matthews and Green also were ejected. Bogut and Freeland were slapped with technical fouls.

]]>http://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/2013/11/23/altercation-breaks-out-at-oracle-between-warriors-and-blazers-three-players-ejected/feed/10Warriors’ Stephen Curry Returns to Action vs. Portlandhttp://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/2013/11/23/warriors-stephen-curry-returns-to-action-vs-portland/
http://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/2013/11/23/warriors-stephen-curry-returns-to-action-vs-portland/#commentsSun, 24 Nov 2013 02:53:55 +0000http://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/?p=5324Point guard Stephen Curry has been cleared by doctors to play and will return to the starting lineup against visiting Portland tonight. Curry has missed the last two games while recovering from a mild concussion. The Warriors lost both games… Continue Reading →

Point guard Stephen Curry has been cleared by doctors to play and will return to the starting lineup against visiting Portland tonight. Curry has missed the last two games while recovering from a mild concussion. The Warriors lost both games and are now 0-3 in games he misses.

The last hurdle of the concussion protocol was for him to participate in full-contact activity and emerge symptom free. Curry had a workout earlier on Saturday, coach Mark Jackson said. Before tip-off, Curry was tested by doctors and given the green light.

Curry sustained the injury Monday at Utah, when Jazz forward Marvin Williams fell on top of his head. He was initially deemed to be fine with a headache. But by Tuesday, his condition was upgraded to a mild concussion.

Curry sat out Wednesday’s loss to Memphis. Thursday, he took part in individual workouts at Warriors’ practice. Friday, he took part in shootaround and pre-game warm-ups. But Curry wasn’t cleared for contact drills because he wasn’t symptom free following his non-contact work. He finally got the green light for contact drills on Saturday.

About two hours before tip-off, he posted “Lock in” on Twitter, a tradition of his symbolizing he’s getting ready for game time. He took the court four pre-game warm-ups, going through his usual drills. He even made his trick shot from the tunnel. After his individual warm-ups, he was tested by doctors and deemed symptom free.

]]>http://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/2013/11/23/warriors-stephen-curry-returns-to-action-vs-portland/feed/1Andre Iguodala Will Not Require Surgery on Left Hamstringhttp://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/2013/11/23/source-andre-iguodala-will-not-require-surgery-on-left-hamstring/
http://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/2013/11/23/source-andre-iguodala-will-not-require-surgery-on-left-hamstring/#commentsSat, 23 Nov 2013 23:46:41 +0000http://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/?p=5320The Warriors announce the MRI revealed Andre Iguodala sustained a strained left hamstring. He is out indefinitely, but the good news for Golden State is no surgery will be required. The team did not release any details about the grade… Continue Reading →

The Warriors announce the MRI revealed Andre Iguodala sustained a strained left hamstring. He is out indefinitely, but the good news for Golden State is no surgery will be required.

The team did not release any details about the grade of the injury or a timetable for his return. But no surgery means the muscle did not tear completely from the bone and a months-long recovery process was avoided.

A strain of the hamstring, a group of three muscles that run along the back of your thigh, does mean he tore at least one of the muscles. But it’s nothing the R.I.C.E. method can’t cure.